Wall closet carrier



P 0, 1966 E. L. MORRIS ETAL 3,273,173

WALL CLOSET CARRIER Filed April 22. 1963 5224 L. Mame/s 0501965 LEE6097/65 INVENTORS.

W n! W United States Patent 3,273,173 WALL CLOSET CARRIER Earl L.Morris, Whittier, and George Lee Curtice, Downey, Califl, assignors toAcorn Engineering Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Apr. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 274,469 5 Claims. (Cl. 4-252)The present invention relates to an improved carrier device for hangingand supporting wall-hung fixtures such as a Wall-hung water closet, andmore particularly to a carrier device that can be installed andconcealed behind the finished surface of a wall and which utilizes tothe fullest extent the vertical stud members of the wall construction tosupport the wall-hung fixture.

Heretofore, many wall-hung closet supports were precast and preformed sothat conditions at a job site had to be altered to meet thespecifications of the closet support. The device of the presentinvention, though it may be preformed, can easily be adapted to meetlocal conditions by on-site alterations.

Prior devices ofttimes utilized an indirect system for connecting thewall-hung fixture to the wall. As an example, the fixture support wouldbe installed in a wall at a predetermined fixed position and the fixturewould in turn be attached to the fixture support independently of wherethe fixture support was attached to the vertical studs. This independentattachment created many unnecessary bending and torsional stresses inthe fixture support which could cause the fixture support to failleaving the remaining part of the hanger intact with the vertical studs.There was no direct connection from the wall fixture to vertical studsin the wall.

The device of the present invention avoids this possibility ofintermediate failure in that there is provided a vertically adjustablefixture support member that receives the load from the fixture andtransmits it directly to the vertical studs or wall members. The resultof using such a support member is that the fixture is in effect attacheddirectly to the vertical studs. The possibility of having a haphazardconnection may be completely eliminated. No unnecessary stresses may becreated in the device.

Moreover, the present carrier device can be used with wall fixtures ofdifferent vertical dimensions as made by different manufacturers. Thepresent device may be adjusted vertically to support any fixture andstill provide for a direct connection to the vertical wall studs.Furthermore, the present carrier device allows for installation'in wallsof thicknesses that may vary according to the construction used. Theinstallation of the present carrier device does not depend on thefinished wall thickness.

To install the device of the present invention all that need be done isto securely fasten the device to the vertical studs and horizontal sill(when used) of a wall. The floor construction need not be disturbed.This unique feature permits the use of this device in remodeling anexisting structure in that the finished surface of an existing wall isremoved, the device installed, and the wall finishing replaced. There isno need for drilling into, pounding on or removing any part of theexisting fioor which in turn would disturb the plaster or finishing onthe ceiling of the floor below. This feature readily per- "ice mits theremodeling of existing structures at a greatly reduced cost.

Many times in current practice a contractor will be faced with theproblem of installing a water closet in a building of the typeconstructed with continuous concrete beams, lintels and slab. The flatplate or mushroom construction is also widely used in buildings both ofthe commercial and residential type. This poses the problem ofinstalling the water closet in a partition which may not be securelyanchored to the concrete floor. The device of the present invention isparticularly adaptable to this type of construction in that verticalfabricated members can easily be embedded in the floor concrete to serveas studs. Such members may be of the wide flange type or of the doublechannel box construction. The use of these members does not constitutepart of this invention but is only illustrated to emphasize the overalladaptability of this unit to existing job site conditions. Throughoutthe following description any reference to vertical studs would applynot only to wooden studs as part of the wall construction but also tovertical members, either wooden or steel, fabricated and installed inthe aforementioned way, and with or without the use of horizontal sillmembers.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providea wall fixture hanger and support that avoids all of the foregoingdisadvantages of similar type fixture hangers used heretofore.

An object of the present invention is to disclose and provide anefficient fixture hanger and support which may be installed in a wallconcealed behind the finished surface of the wall irrespective of thethickness of the finished wall.

Another object of the present invention is to disclose and provide afixture hanger and support which fully utilizes the supporting verticalstuds of a wall in supporting the wall-hung fixture.

An object is to provide a carrier device for supporting a wall fixtureand transmitting the load and weight of such fixture directly tovertical wall studs.

A further object of the invention is to disclose and provide a fixturehanger and support that can be economically manufactured and installed.

A still further object of the present invention is to disclose andprovide a fixture hanger and support that can be readily installed in anexisting structure without unnecessarily disturbing parts of thestructure not directly affected by the wall-hung fixture such as anexisting floor.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a front view, in elevation, of an exemplary embodiment ofthe device of the present invention installed in a wall of the typeconstructed with vertical studs and horizontal sills.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the present invention in transversesection taken along plane IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view in elevation of the present invention insection taken along plane IIIIII of FIG. 1 showing a wall-hung fixturein position in phantom lines.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the vertical adjustable closet supportmember which forms a part of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is shown in FIG. 1 a wall of the type constructed of verticalstuds 11a and 11b and a horizontal sill 12. The vertical studs may be ofthe fabricated steel type embedded in a concrete slab, or wooden,depending upon the floor construction. The spaced vertical studs 11a and11b define a vacant space 13 within the wall 10 in which a fixturecarrier and support device 20 of the present invention may be installedand concealed behind the finished surface 14 of the wall 10.

A stack type soil drain 15 may pass into the vacant space 13 forattachment to the wall-hung fixture 16 which may be a wall-hung watercloset as best seen in FIG. 3. Soil drain 15 may be of the stack type tobe used in multi-story buildings or may be of simple L-configuration asused in single story buildings, or it may even be of a type having twolaterally extending offset inlets to be used where two units are to beinstalled back to back in the same wall. Soil drain 15 may preferably beof the cast iron variety or it may be made of clay or tile.

"Whichever type is used, soil drain 15 is provided with a fitting havinga lateral opening 17 that may sealingly receive an outlet port providedon the wall-hung fixture 16. Fixture carrier and support 20 may have apair of elongated closet hanger plates 21a and 21b, each of whichextends vertically, is upstanding, and lies in a plane parallel to thefinished surface 14 of the wall 10. Each of the closet hanger plates 21aand 21b may be provided with upper and lower vertically extendingelongated aligned slots 22a and 22b, and 23a and 23b, respectively.Although two slots are preferred in each hanger plate for addedrigidity, one slot in each plate may suifice.

Means may be provided on the hanger plates 21a and 21b for securing thehanger plates to two consecutive vertical studs 11a and 11b. Such meansmay be rearwardly directed side portions 24a and 24b which may besecured to face-to-face directed surfaces of the vertical studs 11a and11b by bolts or screws 25. However, side portions 24a and 24b may beomitted and plates 21a and 21b made continuous along at least a portionof the wall surface of the vertical studs 11a and 11b and bolted orscrewed thereto. Either method should securely retain the hanger plates21a and 21b in a plane parallel to the finished surface 14 of the wall10.

Additional means may be provided for securing the lower end of thehanger plates 21a and 21b to the horizontal sill. Such means may behorizontally extending toe portions 21a and 2112' which .lie in offsetplanes parallel to but horizontally spaced forwardly from the hangerplates 21a and 21b as best seen in FIG. 3. These offset toe portions 21aand 21b may be attached to the wall suface of the horizontal sill 12 andmay overlap the vertical studs 11a and 11b a short distance to giveadded rigidity to the structure. It should be noted that this offsetwill space the hanger plates 21a and 21b rearwardly from the wall andprovide a small gap between the hanger plates 21a and 21b and the wallfinishing 14 to facilitate the accessibility to lock nuts 30. Thisfeature further adds to the adjustability and overall adaptability toon-site conditions.

Vertically adjustable closet support means may be provided on the hangerplates and are adapted to be securely attached to the vertical studs 11aand 11b to support the wall-hung fixture 16 directly from the verticalstuds. Such support means may include a horizontally extend.- ingsupport member 26 as best seen in FIG. 4. Support member 26 may have agenerally broad bottomed U-shaped configuration with end portions 27extending outwardly from the open end of the U-shaped support member 26.Openings 28 may be provided in the broad bottom or central section ofthe U-shaped member 26 and are spaced apart at a predetermined distanceto conform to similar openings in a fixture to be hung from a wall.

The openings 28, spaced apart at a predetermined distance, not only aidin attaching the wall-hung fixture 16, but may also serve to laterallyposition the closet hanger plates 21a and 21b. Since the vertical studs11a and 11b are not always accurately positioned, and since thecenter-to-center distance of corresponding openings in a fixture arestandard, normally nine inches, provision may be made to insure auniform spacing of the vertical slots 22a, 22b, and 23a, 23b in thehanger plates 21a and 21b. This may be accomplished by predrillingopenings 28 in the support member 26 and using these openings as guidesto laterally position hanger plates 21a and 21b. Should the studs 11aand 11b be closer together than desired, the hanger plates 21a and 21bmay extend into the next intermittent vacant space in the wall 10.Should the studs 11a and 11b be farther apart, the excess space may beadjusted by on-site alteration of the means for attaching the plates 21aand 21b to the studs 11a and Securing means may be provided to cooperatewith the support member 26 and hanger plates 21a and 21b to secure thewall-hung fixture 16 thereto. Such securing means may includehorizontally extending stud-like members 29 which pass through openings28 and through the hanger plate upper slots 22a and 22b. Hanger platenuts and washers 30 may be applied on the stud-like member 29 on bothsides of support member 26 and hanger plates 21a and 21b to fix therelative position of the support member 26 and the hanger plates 21a and21b. After the wall-hung fixture 16 has been hung from the stud-likemembers 29, fixture cap nuts 31 may be threaded to the stud-like members29 to securely retain the fixture 16 against the wall 10.

From FIG. 3 it can be seen that the fixture 16 provides a downward andoutward load on the fixture cap nuts 31, which in turn pull on thestud-like members 29 securely fixed to support member 26. Since supportmember 26 is always adjustably positioned directly behind stud-likemembers 29, the force on stud-like members 29 is transmitted directly tothe vertical studs 11a and 11b as though the forces were acting directlyon the studs.

As can best be seen in FIG. 2, support member 26 may be securelyattached to vertical studs 11a and 11b by means of bolts 32 and screws33. The laterally extending end portions 27 may rigidly grasp thevertical studs 11a and 11b to completely utilize the studs in supportingthe wall-hung fixture 16.

Securing means may be provided to position and secure the soil drain 15to the closet hanger support plates 21a and 21b. Such means may belaterally extending support arms 34a and 34b which may be integral withthe soil drain 15 or may be part of pipe clamp member (not shown)adapted to encircle the soil drain 15. Apertures may be provided in theoutermost end of the arms 34a and 34b and are adapted to receive thelower stud-like members 36 and 36.

To install the device of the present invention, closet hanger plates 21aand 21b are stood against the vertical studs 11a and 11b in theirtentative position. The adjustable closet support member 26 is then heldin place while stud like members 29 are inserted through the predrilledpre-spaced openings 28 and the upper elongated slots 22a and 22b. Thehanger plate nuts and washers 30 are then applied to hold the closetsupport member 26 in a sloppy relationship to the closet hanger plates21a and 21b. At this point the closet hanger plates 21a and 21b arepositioned horizontally to insure the proper spacing of the elongatedaligned slots 22a, 22b, 23a and 23b.

The closet hanger plates 21a and 21b being properly spaced horizontallymay then be secured to the opposing surfaces of the vertical studs 11aand 11b and the horizontally extending toe portions 21a and 21b to thehoriq zontal sill 12 by fasteners 25. The closet hanger plates 21a and21b are now secured in place with the support member 26 hanging looselytherefrom.

The soil drain 15 is now set in place in its final position extendingdown into the floor below. The support arms 34:: and 34b are thenrigidly connected to the closet hanger plates 21a and 21b by the lowerstud-like members 36 and 36. The lower stud-like members 36 and 36 arepassed through the apertures 35a and 35b of the support arms 34a and 34band then through the lower elongated slots 23a and 23b in the hangerplates 21a and 21b. Hanger plate nuts and washers (not shown) similar tohanger plate nuts and washers 30 are then threaded down on stud-likemembers 36. The soil drain 15 is now rigidly fixed in place. It shouldbe noted that stud-like members 36 project out from the wall toward thewall-hung fixture 16 as does the flanged opening 17 of the soil drain15.

The wall-hung fixture 16 is tentatively set in place on the outwardlyprojecting stud-like members 36. The closet support member 26 is thenpositioned vertically so that stud members 29 are in position, and thehanger plate nuts and washers 30 on both sides of support member 26 andhanger plates 21a and 21b are drawn tight. The fixture 16 is thenremoved from its tentative position, With the adjustable closet supportmember 26 properly adjusted vertically, it may now be secured tovertical studs 11a and 11b by the bolts 32 and the screws 33. It shouldbe noted that the closet support member 26 is now rigidly secured to thevertical studs 11a and 11b and any downward and outward horizontal forceapplied to the closet support member 26 will be transmitted directly tothe vertical studs 11a and 11b.

At this point the device is ready to be used and therefore the finishedwall surface 14 can be applied. After the finished wall surface 14 isapplied, the only evidence of a closet hanger will be the outwardlyprojecting preset stud-like members 29 and 36 and the flanged opening 17of the soil drain 15. The wall-hung fixture 16 can then be replaced inits final position mating the outlet in the fixture 16 with the flangedopening 17. The finished nuts 31 can then be threaded on and tightened.

It is manifest that this entire installation will take but a few minutesand does not require any skilled workmen or expensive equipment.Installation cost is thereby kept to a minimum.

Directing attention to FIG. 3, it can be seen that when the water closet16 is being used, as by sitting on it near the end 16a, the entirefixture will have a tendency to move downwardly and outwardly. Thismovement of the fixture 16 is translated into a horizontal movement ofthe top by reason of the fixture 16 being rigidly supported by stud-likemembers 36 resisting the horizontal and compression forces exerted nearthe bottom of the fixture 16 and the pivoting of the entire fixtureabout that point. This pivoting of the fixture 16 creates a virtuallyhorizontal motion of the top of the fixture 16 where it is secured tothe closet support member 26 by stud-like members 29. This horizontalforce on stud-like members 29 is transmitted directly to the verticalstuds 11a and 11b thereby utilizing to the fullest extent the strengh ofthe vertical studs 11a and 11b (be they wood or steel) to support thewall-hung water closet.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

1. A carrier device for hanging and supporting a Wall hung water closetfor installation behind the finished surfaces of a wall of the typeconstructed with spaced vertical studs and horizontal sill forming aspace for a soil drain fitting, comprising:

a pair of upstanding laterally spaced, elongated closet hanger plates,each having a front portion parallel to the plane of the wall and arearwardly extending side portion perpendicular to the front portion,said side portions being securable to opposing surfaces of spacedvertical studs defining the space for a soil drain fitting;

each of said hanger plates having :a lower end having a laterallyextending toe portion 'lying in a plane parallel to but offset forwardlyof the front portion, said lower ends and toe portions being securableto wall surfaces of a horizontal sill adjacent said space;

an elongated upper and lower vertical slot in the front portion of eachhanger plate;

vertically adjustable securing means for cooperation with said lowerslots to secure and position a soil drain;

and vertically adjustable closet support means including a horizontalmember of U-shaped con-figuration, said member having a bottom providedwith spaced ports and rearwardly extending end sections,

a stud-like member extending forwardly through each of said ports and anupper slot in the front portion of a hanger plate and connecting saidhorizontal member and plate to support a wall hung water closet;

said rearwardly extending end sections of said horizontal memberincluding means for connecting the ends directly to vertical studsdefining said space.

2. A carrier device for hanging and supporting a wall hung fixture forinstallation entirely behind the finished surface of a wall of the typeconstructed with vertical studs and a horizontal sill forming a spacefor a soil drain fitting, comprising:

a pair of upstanding laterally spaced, elongated closet hanger plateseach having a front portion parallel to the plane of the wall and arearwardly extending side portion perpendicular to the front portion,said side portions being securable to opposing surfaces of spacedvertical studs defining the space for a soil drain fitting;

each of said hanger plates having a lower end having a laterallyextending toe portion below the level of said side portion, said lowerends and toe portions being securable to wall surfaces of a horizontalsill adjacent said space;

an elongated vertical slot in the upper front portion of each hangerplate;

vertically adjustable closet support means including an adjustablehorizontal member having a central section provided with spaced portsand rearwardly extending end sections, said end sections including meansfor connecting the ends directly to vertical studs defining said space;

and a stud-like member extending forwardly through each of said portsand a slot in a hanger plate and connecting said member and hanger, saidstud-like members being securable to a water fixture and transmittingthe forces created by such fixture to the studs through said member andplates.

3. A carrier device as .stated in claim 2 including a pair of additionalstud-like members carried by and extending horizontally and forwardlyfrom said hanger plates below said first mentioned stud-like members,said additional stud-like members being for connection to a waterfixture to transmit downward and inward forces through the hanger platesto vertical studs in a Wall.

4. A carrier device as stated in claim 2 wherein the rearwardlyextending end sections of the horizontal member terminate in laterallyextending portions arrange-d to wall hung fixture in a wall spacedefined by spaced vert-i-' cal studs and a sill the provision of:

a pair of upstanding, laterally spaced, elongated wall fixture hangerplates, each having a front portion parallel to the plane of the Walland a rearwardly extending side portion perpendicular to the frontportion, said side portions being securable to opposing surfaces ofspaced vertical studs defining the space for a soil drain fitting;

each of said hanger plates having a lower end having a laterallyextending toe portion below the level of said side portion, said lowerends and toe portions being securable to wall surfaces of a horizontalsill :adjacent said space;

an elongtaed vertical slot in the upper front portion of each hangerplate;

8 and a vertically adjustable horizontal member provided with spacedports and studs extending through said ports and slots and connectingsaid member and hanger plates, said studs being securable to a wall hungfixture to transmit the load thereof directly to the studs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,885 10/1915Caine 24857 X 2,942,277 6/ 1960' Manas 4-252 2,945,240 7/1960 Young 4Q523,014,222 112/1961 Pope 4--252 3,020,565 2/4962 Manas et a1. '4252LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL ROTHBERG, Examiner.

H. I. GROSS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CARRIER DEVICE FOR HANGING AND SUPPORTING A WALL HUNG WATER CLOSETFOR INSTALLATION BEHIND THE FINISHED SURFACES OF A WALL OF THE TYPECONSTRUCTED WITH SPACED VERTICAL STUDS AND HORIZONTAL SILL FORMING ASPACE FOR A COIL DRAIN FITTING, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF UPSTANDINGLATERALLY SPACED, ELONGATED CLOSET HANGER PLATES, EACH HAVING A FRONTPORTION PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE WALL AND A REARWARDLY EXTENDINGSIDE PORTION PERPENDICULAR TO THE FRONT PORTION, SAID SIDE PORTIONSBEING SECURABLE TO OPPOSING SURFACES OF SPACED VERTICAL STUDS DEFININGTHE SPACE FOR A SOIL DRAIN FITTING; EACH OF SAID HANGER PLATES HAVING ALOWER END HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING TOE PORTION LYING IN A PLANEPARALLEL TO BUT OFFSET FORWARDLY OF THE FRONT PORTION, SAID LOWER ENDSAND TOE PORTIONS BEING SECURABLE TO WALL SURFACES OF A HORIZONTAL SILLADJACENT SAID SPACE; AN ELONGATED UPPER AND LOWER VERTICAL SLOT IN THEFRONT PORTION OF EACH HANGER PLATE; VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE SECURING MEANSFOR COOPERATION WITH SAID LOWER SLOTS TO SECURE AND POSITION A SOILDRAIN; AND VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CLOSET SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING AHORIZONTAL MEMBER OF U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION, SAID MEMBER HAVING A BOTTOMPROVIDED WITH SPACED PORTS AND REARWARDLY EXTENDING END SECTIONS, ASTUD-LIKE MEMBER EXTENDING FORWARDLY THROUGH EACH OF SAID PORTS AND ANUPPER SLOT IN THE FRONT PORTION OF A HANGER PLATE AND CONNECTING SAIDHORIZONTAL MEMBER AND PLATE TO SUPPORT A WALL HUNG WATER CLOSET; SAIDREARWARDLY EXTENDING END SECTIONS OF SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER INCLUDINGMEANS FOR CONNECTING THE ENDS DIRECTLY TO VERTICAL STUDS DEFINING SAIDSPACE.